Appeal on abolition of former corrupt ministers’ immunity made to Turkish parliament

The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office has appealed to parliament in connection with the abolition of immunity of former ministers involved in a corruption scandal. They are as follows; former Interior Minister Muammar Guler, former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, former Minister for European Integration Egemen Bagıs and former Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported on March 4.

The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office submitted a relevant appeal to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on February 28.

Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on December 17, 2013, resulting in the arrest of several dozen people including businessmen and the sons of some ministers.

Among those detained were the sons of some ministers who are the members of Turkey's ruling party - Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's son, Salih Kaan Caglayan, Interior Minister Muammar Guler's son, Baris Guler and Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar's son, Oguz Bayraktar.

Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality Mustafa Demir and Director General of the Turkish Halkbank Suleyman Aslan were arrested during the same operation by police. The detainees were accused of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.

The corruption scandal included the names of former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, former Minister for European Integration Egemen Bagıs, former Interior Minister Muammer Guler and son of former Minister for Urban Development and Environment Erdogan Bayraktar.

Former director general of Turkish Halkbank and eight more detained businessmen were released on February 14.

On February 28, the Turkish prosecutor's office made a decision to release the detainees, namely Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab, son of former Interior Minister Muammar Guler - Baris Guler and son of former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan - Salih Kaan Caglayan.

Five more people detained on a corruption scandal case in Turkey were released.